Old Firm Derby: Celtic Seize Momentum In Title Race, Says O'Neill

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Celtic’s dramatic 2-2 draw with Rangers at Ibrox keeps the Scottish Premiership title race alive, as Martin O'Neill believes the late comeback has injected new belief into the squad. Reo Hatate equalised in the 91st minute after missing a stoppage-time penalty and rebound, leaving Celtic eight points behind leaders Hearts, with a game in hand, and Rangers six points off top spot.

O'Neill stressed that pulling level from 2-0 down on Rangers’ home ground changes the mood in the camp. The manager admitted the side felt they "could and should have won the game", yet also recognised the importance of taking one point in the context of the season and the title pursuit.

Rangers had looked in full control during the first half as Youssef Chermiti struck twice with a composed brace. Celtic then transformed the contest after the break, with Kieran Tierney beginning the response before Hatate’s persistence finally brought reward in stoppage time, turning what seemed a decisive Rangers lead into a tense finish at Ibrox.

Speaking to BBC Scotland, O'Neill outlined the mental challenge at the interval and praised the response. O'Neill said: "If you're 2-0 down at half-time, you have to question yourself. I spend my life questioning myself, to tell you the truth. But anyway, we pulled it around in the second half. Great effort by the players, they've shown great spirit. Coming here is a difficult task, particularly if you're chasing the game as we were."

Rangers manager Danny Rohl, by contrast, focused on the sense of regret after letting a two-goal advantage slip. Rohl highlighted how Rangers’ intensity and decision making declined after half-time, allowing Celtic to dominate territory and chances. The German coach warned that performance levels must remain high for an entire match with the title picture so tight.

The statistical swing between both halves underlined the shift in control. Celtic ended the first half with an expected goals figure of 0.03 and no shots on target, while Rangers converted both of their two efforts on goal, taking seven shots to Celtic’s one. That pattern reversed after the break as Celtic attacked relentlessly.

Across the second half, Celtic produced 16 shots compared with five from Rangers, including seven efforts on target to the hosts’ single attempt, with Celtic’s expected goals rising to 2.22. Those numbers backed O'Neill’s view that Celtic finished stronger and suggested that the visitors had opportunities to claim all three points near the end of the Old Firm derby.

Rohl summarised his side’s emotions and the change in control after the interval. Rohl said: "At the moment, the feeling is more disappointment because you dropped two points after a 2-0 lead. It's not about 50 minutes, it's about longer. We had high intensity, we played really nice football, we found our space. It was great. In the second half, we were not clinical in possession. We made some wrong decisions then we lose the ball, we give them a little bit of momentum then they score early in the second half and then you know it's 2-1 and they have nothing to lose. Finally, it's a draw."

Rohl also commented on the late penalty award for Celtic and stressed the importance of moving forward. Rohl said: "It's always a little bit lucky for a team to get a late pen. This is normal, I would say it's the same when we get a pen late in the game. It's about the next game and we have to move on. We go again. We'll try next week in the cup game again a good performance and hopefully we can keep our performance over 90 minutes."

Looking at his own squad, O'Neill compared the current Celtic team with the one from the earlier period in charge. O'Neill said: "Going back to those days [when O'Neill was first in charge], the side were very strong physically. They could compete at European level and domestically. This side doesn't have the same sort of physicality but they do not lack heart."

O'Neill accepted that team selection may have contributed to the difficult first half and singled out Hatate’s persistence. O'Neill said: "Maybe wrong selection in the first place. Easy to say that. They had a big influence in the game and Reo Hatate finally puts the ball in the net after the third or fourth attempt."

The Celtic manager weighed up whether the result should be seen as a missed chance or a recovery. O'Neill said: "In the scheme of things, you might think it's two points dropped but at half-time, it's a point gained." O'Neill then underlined how the performance at Ibrox can influence belief for the rest of the Scottish Premiership season.

O'Neill described how the draw may fuel Celtic’s push over the remaining league fixtures. O'Neill said: "It helps, to fight back at Ibrox from a 2-0 deficit. We could and should have won the game, and that gives you enormous ambition to drive on. We're still giving ourselves a chance in this title race."

Rohl, assessing the wider table, underlined that the championship remains open with nine games left. Rohl said: "There are still nine games to go, this is 27 points. All games now will be tough for all the teams. We believe until the end. This season, the decision making will be on the last matchday." Both clubs now turn to crucial league and cup fixtures with little margin for error.